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FAYE LANE'S BEAUTY SHOP STORIES

Out of the Loop Fringe Festival

WaterTower Theatre

Musical Director - Jerry Jean

CAST: Faye Lane - Herself


Reviewed Performance: 3/4/2011

Reviewed by Carol Anne Gordon, Associate Critic for John Garcia's THE COLUMN

Rhonda Faye Gunnels was the sweet, talented, outrageously optimistic and powerfully positive little girl that you knew in grade school, and envied for how she remained cheerful and confident while the other kids ("who were all evil bastards") teased her mercilessly about being fat. She grew up interacting with her mother's regular clients at the Casa Vale Beauty Salon, right here in Texas, and learned how to be self-assured by listening to their stories and emulating their amazing poise.

Now all grown up, and calling herself Faye Lane (I won't reveal any spoilers by telling you how and why that happened), this Texas wildflower gave a powerhouse one-woman performance that took the audience from laughter to tears and back again. Dressed all in black, and standing all alone on stage for 90 minutes with nothing more than a microphone, a piano, an accompanist and a couple of hilarious props, Faye made you feel the hopes and dreams of a little girl in a little Texas town, a teenager who'd blossomed, and a young woman who took a leap of faith and "Annette appeared".

Faye's storytelling was smooth and engaging and, a couple of times, even she got misty- eyed while telling a poignant episode from her life. Her story started out just like a lot of ours did, in a small town in the Bible belt, with two hard-working parents and dreams of being a movie star ? and then took some startling and marvelous turns. She effortlessly moved among at least four different Southern accents while channeling the beauty shop ladies, and had a beautiful lilting voice in the few original songs that were written especially for this show.

Hers was an unbelievably entertaining story, and you've only got ONE chance to hear it for yourself Sunday, March 6th, at 7:30 pm.

Do it. Contact WaterTower today and get your ticket for that one show. It will leave you breathless and hopeful and believing even more in your dreams.

FAYE LANE'S BEAUTY SHOP STORIES
Out of the Loop Fringe Festival
WaterTower Theatre, 15650 Addison Road, Addison, TX 75001

Last performance - Sunday, March 6th, 7:30 pm

Tickets / Reservations / Box Office: 972-450-6232